Mechanical toy



Dec. 23, 1941. w JENKINS 2,267,032

MECHANICAL TOY Fild May 10, 1941 mm" W H Willi Jenhirw:

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 23, 1941 rso STATS TENT 2 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanical toys and has for an object to provide a toy including a spring motor and a plurality of figures actuated by the motor to simulat chickens picking up food A further object is to provide a device of this character which will be formed of a few strong, simple and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture, and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a toy constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, the toy comprises a base ill, preferably formed of a wood disk, from which rises four posts H, which support a platform l2. A cylindrical metal wall i3 is secured to the base it! and to the platform to conceal a spring motor hi mounted on the base Ill.

Mounted upon the platform are a plurality of figures I5 simulating chickens. The neck i6 and head I! of each chicken are formed in one piece, and the neck is hinged in a recess l8 formed in the body of the figure, through the medium of a pivot pin iii. The body of each figure is supported upon spaced legs 28, which are preferably inserted in sockets 2i formed in the platform 12.

A string 22 is connected to the neck is of the figure within the recess I8, in rear of the pivot pin l9, and passes downward through an opening 23 in the platform to and underneath a re-: spective guide staple 24. The end of the string is secured to the base Ii] by a tack 25.

A turntable 2% is mounted on the driven shaft 21 of the spring motor l4 and comprises a circular length of stiff wire having a spider 28 provided with a substantially square hub 29, which is secured to the shaft 21 by a nut 30 secured onto the threaded end of the shaft, there being a shoulder 3| on the shaft upon which the hub rests. Th turntable is provided at diametrically opposite points with arcuate cam projections 32 formed also of wire of the same gauge as the turntable. When the turntable is rotated, these cam projections engage the strings 22 and bow the strings outwardly, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1, to pull down on the inner ends of the necks of the figures with resultant raising of the heads thereof. As the cam projections ride past the strings, the heads gravitate. This motion of the heads is amusing to children as it simulates a chicken or bird picking up grain.

A tube 33 is secured at the upper end to the bottom of the platform I2 and communicates with an opening 34, through which a key may be inserted to engage the winding stem 35 of the spring motor. The spring motor is of conventional type, including a gear train 36, a spring 37 being assembled with the initial gear of the train, and a wind brake 38 being assembled with the final gear of the train.

For transporting the device, a cylindrical handle 39 is connected at the upper and lower ends to the platform and to the base respectively by bracket arms 40 and 4|.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the guide staples 24 of three of the figures are shown as disposed on the base outside of the bottom plate 42 of the spring motor, while the guide of the remaining figure consists of a pin 43 secured to the post 44 of the spring motor, to which the end of the spring 31 is attached.

Since the operation of the parts has been described as the description of the parts progressed, it is thought that the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanical toy comprising a base, a platform supported above the base, a spring motor mounted on the base, figures mounted upon the platform simulating animate objects, strings passing from the figures through openings in the platform, guides on the base through which the strings are passed, the ends of the strings being terminally secured to the base, a turntable connected to the spring motor having cam projections extending outwardly therefrom adapted to engage the strings and bow the strings outwardly to operate the figures to simulate animation thereof.

2. The structure as of claim 1 and. in which said figures are formed to simulate chickens having heads integral with necks which are pivoted to the figures and connected to the strings to be rocked when the strings are bowed by the turntable for simulating a chicken picking up food.

WILLIE JENKINS. 

